Pair arrested after Vacaville outlet store heists

Vacaville police arrested two Bay Area women Thursday following the alleged theft of hundreds of dollars in merchandise from the Vacaville Premium Outlets, officials reported.

Monique Yvette Erwin, a 26-year-old Oakland resident, and Jessica Celeste Love, 26, of El Sobrante, were taken into custody after a brief pursuit on Interstate 80 in Vacaville, according to the Vacaville Police Department.

Officers responded to the 300 block of Nut Tree Road after a group of women reportedly stole an estimated $750 worth of merchandise from one of the factory stores, police said. Employees and witnesses were able to provide 911 dispatchers with a description of the women, the Audi they used as their getaway vehicle and its license plate number.

Officers began searching the area for the vehicle, which was spotted on westbound Interstate 80, authorities said. Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued another mile before eventually pulling the car over.

Witnesses were brought to the location where the vehicle stop occurred and positively identified Erwin and Love as the allegedly suspects in the theft, police said. During a search of the Audi, officers found the suspected stolen property, along with a device used to remove anti-theft tags, police said. Additional merchandise from nine different stores was also found inside the car, police said, but there was no sign of store bags or receipts.

Police contacted employees at one of the stores and they were able to confirm the property was missing from the business, authorities reported. Officers are continuing to follow up with the other eight stores.

Both women were arrested on suspicion of burglary, while Love may face an additional possible charge for driving on a suspended license, police said. They were booked into Solano County Jail.